Shiretoko Five Lakes (Goko)

知床五湖

Est. 60Shiretoko, Hokkaido

UNESCO World Heritage Site

Overview

Five small lakes in a primeval forest at the entrance to Shiretoko National Park, circled by an elevated boardwalk and a separate ground walk.

A wetland of five glacial lakes formed by Mt. Iozan eruptions, set in primeval Korean pine forest at the western base of the Shiretoko peninsula. Two trails: an 800-meter elevated boardwalk reaches the first lake and is open year-round (free, wheelchair-accessible); a 3-kilometer ground walk visits all five lakes but requires a paid bear-watching guide from May 10 to July 31 during brown-bear birthing season. Reflections of the Shiretoko mountain range on calm mornings are the headline shot.

Local tips

Do the boardwalk loop first thing in the morning before tour buses arrive. The reflections are sharpest before 8 AM.

Practical info

Japanese name: 知床五湖

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